Sylph and Riot turned the corner, catching Pippin’s glare and the tail end of their heated words.
“Get along now,” Riot said. “We’ve got to save the world tomorrow.”
Sylph hauled him into the infirmary before he could say anything else.
Through the awkwardness that followed, Chase looked over Pippin. He’d been an acne victim when he arrived at the Star, but his face was now clear except for the temples. She was surprised to realize he was combing his hair a little differently. Maybe taking more time with his shaving too. She was even more surprised to find tears in the corners of her eyes.
“You should try truth, Pippin. You think people know about you, but that’s different than being out. Being open.” The idea seemed even better when she said it. “Being honest worked with Tristan. I’ve been talking to him about Tourn, and it makes me trust him—”
“You’ve been talking to Tristan about your father?” Pippin sprang from no emotion to radiating. “That’s perfect. Tell him everything. Even though I’ve been here from day one, supporting you, keeping your secret. Like one of your lovesick tailers.”
“You know you’re not like that.”
“Then don’t treat me like one!” Pippin slammed into the infirmary.
Before Chase could get herself together, Romeo sauntered around the corner. “Pretty lady at twelve o’clock,” he declared. “Want to find a quiet place and get busy?”
Chase caught him by the arm and shoved him against the wall. “You always have to talk like that? To everyone? Don’t you ever worry about leading someone on?”
“It’s my natural state of irresistible.” He looked at the way she was holding on to him. “Are we going to kiss? Because I will get decked by my pilot. Not that it wouldn’t be worth it.”
She let go. “If one of us had a crush on you, would you want to know?”
Romeo looked delighted. “Of course.”
“And it’d change your behavior? Make you act like a human around that…person?”
He held up his palm like he was taking an oath. “I’d be the perfect gentleman. Je jure.” He dropped his hand. “So are we going to make out? No? Were you talking about Sylph? It’s Sylph, isn’t it? Come on. Tell me quick.”
Chase left him spinning out in the hall.
? ? ?
The cadets sat around a too-white bed next to a curtained-off section. The doctor was seeing them one at a time behind the white sheet, which meant entirely too much waiting.
It was painfully quiet. Chase thought it had to do with the fact that the threat from Ri Xiong Di had spread through the Star, and everyone was incapable of talking about anything else. She tried to convince herself it wasn’t because the Streaker teams knew she was still fighting with Pippin.
Tristan sat on the bed with his back to Chase, and she turned, pleased when he leaned his shoulder into hers. Sylph lounged across the foot of the mattress. Riot was being seen first, and they heard him yelp from behind a curtain.
“Nut-sack inspection,” Romeo joked. No one laughed. He checked his watch. “Twenty-three hours. Less than a day.”
“If you do that again,” Sylph said evenly, “I’m going to break your arm.”
Romeo raised his eyebrows but said nothing. Pippin shuffled his feet against the floor from his chair at the far end of the room. Pretending, Chase thought. He was always pretending to be someone he wasn’t—or holding back, which amounted to the same thing. It made her ache for her RIO. She knew what it was like to have a secret hovering over every moment of every day. Wouldn’t it be better if he came out?
Would it be better if Chase told everyone about her dad?
Romeo pushed closer to her, interrupting her thoughts. “I can’t wait, Nyxy. Tell me. Who is it?”
Chase glared. “Shut up, Romeo.”
“What’re you talking about?” Sylph demanded.
“Chase says one of you has a crush on me.” He looked from Chase to Sylph. “Either way, I think I win.”
Pippin’s face was scarlet. His hand tapped a thunderous beat on his leg.
“That’s not what I was saying,” Chase tried. “I was only thinking that we should, you know, be open with each other. Learn to trust each other.”
Sylph squinted fiercely. “About what exactly?” She was obviously thinking of Liam, her airman boyfriend. Chase had the distinct feeling she was about to get slugged by more than one person in the room.
Tristan turned on the bed, a warning look in his eyes. “What are you doing, Chase?”
“Yeah, Nyx,” Pippin said, his voice too smooth. “What are you doing?”
“I—” Chase broke off as a staff sergeant barreled into the room. He thrust a piece of paper in her hand and left. She opened the folded note and read the message twice.
Bad news.
“What is that?” Sylph snapped. “You look like you just read that you’re on the Down List. Are you on the Down List?” She glanced at Pippin. “This is because you two can’t stop snapping at each other.”
“No, it’s from Kale,” Chase said. “About General Tourn.” She should have lied, but she was too stunned. “He’s arrived on base.”
“So?” Sylph fished. “That doesn’t change anything. Why would Kale tell you that?”
Chase’s heartbeat took off without her. She looked around dazedly.
“Why would you need to know about General Dickhead?” Romeo asked.
Riot pulled the curtain back, rubbing a spot on his arm where he had gotten a shot. “Pippin, you’re up.” He paused to take in the weird quiet in the room. “What’s happening?”
“Nyx got a note from Kale about General Tourn,” Sylph said.
“It’s nothing,” Chase tried, but she saw Pippin sit forward.
“Tell the truth,” Pippin said, his voice cold. “Be open so we can all trust you. Like you suggested.”
“Henry,” Tristan warned.
“Tell me what’s happening,” Sylph commanded.
“Fine.” Chase stared at Pippin, and the truth scraped as it left her throat. “Kale wanted me to know because Tourn is my father.”